Dennis Wayne Gainey

PLEASANT—Dennis Wayne Gainey, 64, of Mt. Pleasant, died Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, at his home following a period of declining health. A celebration of his life will begin at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5, at his church, Cold Springs United Methodist, 2550 Cold Springs Road East, Concord, with the Rev. Mary Hatley and the Rev. Tony Bell officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. at the church. A native of Hartsville, SC, Dennis was born July 12, 1952, to the late Woodrow W. Gainey and Sarah Dixon Gainey. A 1970 graduate of AL Brown high school, he worked as a maintenance technician at the former Cabarrus Memorial Hospital (now Carolina HealthCare Systems-Northeast), where he met his wife and retired from Philip Morris as a machine operator in 2011. A kind man of gentle spirit, Dennis never met a stranger. He enjoyed any activity with his family, grandchildren and friends, all of whom he held dear. He enjoyed fishing, playing in various softball teams over 20 years, and riding his bicycle with friends, more than once all the way from Mt. Pleasant to Myrtle Beach. Dennis was an active member of Cold Springs United Methodist Church where he sang tenor in the Men’s Ensemble group. He was also an active member of his Sunday School class, small group bible study, annual church barbeque, Sunday School Fair booth and taught several Sunday School classes. He genuinely enjoyed visiting church members, friends and family when they were in the hospital or recuperating at home and needed a dose of encouragement. It was a second-nature, special ministry for him. Dennis is survived by his wife, Leeann Swaringen Gainey of the home; two daughters, Ashley Isenhour and Sara Gainey, both of Mt. Pleasant; one son, Travis Gainey of Kannapolis; three grandchildren, Alexis Isenhour, Skyler Isenhour and Theodore Gainey; three sisters, Juanita Gainey and Sandy Doster, both of Kannapolis, and Cathy Beaver of China Grove; and one brother, Carroll Gainey of, SC. The family offers special thanks to Dr. Karis Kremers and her oncology team at the Levine Cancer Center and the 3 J staff (family) at CMC-Northeast for their care of Dennis and his family. Contributions in memory of Dennis may be directed to the Levine Cancer Center, 920 Church Street North, Concord, NC 28025 or Cold Springs United Methodist Church.